Which form of emotional distress is caused by an unintentional act?

• A. Intentional infliction of emotional distress
• B. Negligent infliction of emotional distress
• C. Battery
• D. False arrest

Answer: (B)

Negligent infliction of emotional distress occurs when a party’s careless or unintentional failure to act causes another person to suffer emotional distress. The key idea is lack of intent to cause harm—the distress results from a breach of the duty to exercise reasonable care, and the distress is a foreseeable consequence of that failure. This distinguishes it from intentional infliction of emotional distress, which requires an intentional act aimed at causing distress, not merely negligent behavior. The other options aren’t a fit because battery involves harmful or offensive contact, and false arrest involves unlawful confinement; neither centers on distress caused by an unintentional act.